Portsmouth High School debate team students qualify for national events

Special to Seacoastonline
Updated ·1 min read

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High School debate team is raising funds as its prepares to send four students who qualified to compete in Louisville, Kentucky, in a national tournament over Memorial Day weekend.

Portsmouth on April 8 concluded its final New Hampshire Debate League meet in Bedford with a dominant performance, taking the top five places against competitors from Bedford, Oyster River, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pembrooke.

Portsmouth's Mariam Nada was the top individual speaker, followed by Portsmouth’s Haley Venuto and Bedford's Elsie Paxton. In the team category, Venuto and Miles Borne finished first, followed by Nina Cummins and Bahar Allindis in second, with Marlon Pinto and Nada in third. This final tournament also presented trophies to Isabel Baker and Ian Franas in fourth, Rithika Subramanian and STA’s Owen Coffey. STA’s Andrew McMorrow and Sam White finished in sixth place.

The Portsmouth High School debate team includes, in front row: Emilio Pruna, Miles, Borne, Rithika Rajavel and James Margeson. Second row: Isobel Horowitz, Ian FranasBack row: coach Joe Kraus, Owen Coffey, Marlon Pinto, Mariam Nada, Hailey Venuto, Bahar Altindis and Nina Cummins.
The Portsmouth High School debate team includes, in front row: Emilio Pruna, Miles, Borne, Rithika Rajavel and James Margeson. Second row: Isobel Horowitz, Ian FranasBack row: coach Joe Kraus, Owen Coffey, Marlon Pinto, Mariam Nada, Hailey Venuto, Bahar Altindis and Nina Cummins.

PHS senior Autumn Macedo competed alone in her first tournament and held her own against seasoned debate competitors. PHS coach Joe Kraus said Macedo did so well in his class he encouraged to her to test herself against other teams.

Donations for the Portsmouth team members' trip to Kentucky and other tournaments are being accepted at go.rallyup.com/phsdebate2023.

Miles Borne and Haley Venuto of Portsmouth High School placed first in an April 8 New Hampshire Debate League competition against Bedford, Oyster River, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pembrooke.
Miles Borne and Haley Venuto of Portsmouth High School placed first in an April 8 New Hampshire Debate League competition against Bedford, Oyster River, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pembrooke.

All New Hampshire Debate League teams are invited on Friday, May 19, when Portsmouth hosts an open public forum debate tournament.

Additionally Portsmouth students captured all five of the New Hampshire open Coolidge Cup invitations and are invited to attend the national speech and debate tournament July 4 weekend in Plymouth, Vermont. The Coolidge Foundation covers all competitor costs for the event.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth High School debate team needs help to go to nationals